Gum massaging device



March 12, 1940. FQL, FLANDERS ET AL 2,193,249

GUM MAS SAGING DEVICE Filed Nov. 5, 1937 Patented Mar. 12, 1940 fUNlTED STATES v r I l 2 193 249.

2,193,249 GUM MASSAGING DEVICE Fred L. Flanders, Muskegon,

McGerry,

and James J.

East Grand Rapids, Mich., assignors to Hygienic Arts Corporation,

Muskegon,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 3, 1937, Serial No. 172,504

2 Claims.

and more particularly to a massaging device of the roller type for treating the gums of the oral cavity.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a relatively simple andinexpensive device for massaging the gums of the oral cavity.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide a massaging device of the roller type, wherein rollers'of resilient material, such as rubber, are individually spring mounted to permit a limited individual freedom of movement for each of the roller ends.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawmg.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a massaging device embodying the principles of our invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan View of the same with parts broken away and in section to show the construction.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line V-VofFig. 4 with parts in elevation.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of a modified form of roller for use in my device.

As shown on the drawing:

The reference numeral I0 indicates generally a massaging device of our invention, comprising a handle H and an integral body portion I2 extending axially thereof. Said handle and body portion a hard rubber composition, or the like, by a molding or die forming process.

The body portion l2, which is relatively narrow and long and provided with smoothly rounded outer surfaces H, has an opening M extending from the top side IE to the lower side l6 (Fig. 5). The entrance H to said opening 54 is provided with a shouldered recess into which is fitted an apertured cover plate is. Said cover plate 58 may suitably be force fitted into the shouldered recess I! to be retained therein.

On the side N3 of the opening [4, the lower part I9 of the body portion l2 defines a rectangular entrance 20. A plurality of rollers 22 are may suitably be formed of a plastic,

(01. 128-57) This invention relates to a massaging device,

positioned within said opening M with a portion of their peripheries, such as the portions 23 normally projecting beyond the bottom side 16 through the entrance 20. Each of said rollers 22 is provided with a shaft 24.

In order to provide adjustable mountings for the rollers 22, the inner wall of the body portion I2 is formed with bores 25, which may be of circular cross section, and which extend from the shouldered recess ll almost to the lower side [6. The ends of said shafts 24 normally lie in the bottoms of said bores 25 and are urged against said bottoms by coiled springs 26 positioned in said bores and held under compression against the inside of the cover plate l8. To facilitate freedom of movement of the ends of said shaft 24, the bottoms of said bores 25 are V-shaped as at 27, so that said shaft ends rest uponbearing edges 28 and 29 (Fig. 5).

It is thus apparent that as the'rollers are moved over the gums, each one is free, at either or both ends, to move into or outwardly from the pocket M in which the rollers are mounted. The ends of rollers can also move slightly at the bottoms of the bores 25 to change their relative angular positions. There is thus sufficient individual freedom of movement of the rollers to compensate for the irregularities of the oral cavity and enable the gums to be saged over all of their surfaces.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a serrated type of rubber roller 22a. in which the serrations 23a extend parallel to the axis of the roller. Various typesof serrations or corrugations may be employed to increase the stimulating efiectof the massaging device on the gums. Rubber or rubber compositions of suitable hardness is preferably used in the rollers 22 and 22a.

We claim as our invention:

1. A gum massaging device comprising an integral handle and body member, the body por tion thereof having an opening therethrough from side to side, the lateral walls of said body portion having spaced bores on the inside thereof and defining an entrance to said opening on one side, a plurality of cylindrical rollers partly within said opening having shafts extending into said bores, an apertured cover secured in the entrance to said opening on the other side, and a coiled spring in each of said bores bearing at one end against said cover and at the other end against one of said shafts to afford individual freedom of movement for each shaft.

2. A gum massaging device comprising an elongated casing having spaced opposed side thoroughly maswalls defining an elongated bottom opening for said casing, a plurality of longitudinally spaced rollers in said casing with each of said rollers having a portion thereof extending outwardly of said casing and through said opening, each of said rollers being provided with shaft means having ends extending from opposite ends of the roller and. seated on said side walls, means yieldingly pressing said shafts into seated relation on said side walls, said rollers and their shafts respectively being arranged having lengths with respect to the width of said opening and of the Width between opposing side wall surfaces, respectively, whereby said rollers are transversely movable and tiltable in said opening while said device is in. use in massaging gums.

FRED L. FLANDERS. JAMES J. MCGERRY. 

